The Messiaen Connection: Salonen and members of the NY Phil

By Jacob Slattery, 09 March 2016

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“Salonen has an almost inhuman understanding of the functioning of a composer’s brain”

Reviewed at National Sawdust, Brooklyn on 7 March 2016

Messiaen, Fantaisie for violin and piano

Boulez, Anthèmes I

Knussen, Autumnal, for violin and piano

Messiaen, Le Merle noir

Boulez, Sonatine for flute and piano

Benjamin, Viola, Viola

Esa-Pekka Salonen, Conductor

Musicians from the New York Philharmonic

Yulia Ziskel, Violin

Steven Beck, Piano

Anna Rabinova, Violin

Katherine Greene, Viola

Peter Kenote, Viola

Mindy Kaufman, Flute

Stephen Gosling, Piano

The John Adams Playlist

Jacob Slattery, 17th November

In an innovative concert experience, John Adams curated a night of living composers to shine the spotlight on his favorite new works, answering the question: “Who’s on John Adams’ playlist?”

*****

A brilliant UK premiere of John Adams’ After the Fall

David Karlin, 25th February

The Icelandic pianist and Finnish conductor make a superb case for John Adams' latest concerto; the Philharmonia play Ravel's Daphnis et Chloé strongly but don't convince completely.

****1

Salonen and the LA Philharmonic take on the forces of nature

Néstor Castiglione, 9th January

Reflections of nature and humanity's place within it in Salonen's 2026 return

****1

Salonen leads an Austrian feast at the Philadelphia Orchestra

Cameron Kelsall, 18th October

A delightful Mozart appetizer leads to a satisfying account of Bruckner's Fourth Symphony.

****1

Boulez, Millepied and Salonen at New York Philharmonic

David Wolfson, 9th October

Pierre Boulez’ Rituel in memoriam Bruno Maderna is choreograped by Benjamin Millepied for a New York Philharmonic performance, led by Esa-Pekka Salonen.

***11

Salonen leads an electrifying Boulez tribute in New York

Susan Stempleski, 3rd October

The Philharmonic continues its celebration of the composer-conductor’s centennial with pianist Pierre-Laurent Aimard as soloist in an innovative program juxtaposing selections by the modernist maestro with pieces by Debussy.

****1

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Jacob Slattery

Jacob is a musician and raconteur based out of New York City. As a writer, he operates an online arts and culture blog with the goal of providing momentum for community-based arts projects in NYC. As an oboist, Jacob has performed internationally with orchestras from Vienna to Seoul. Born and raised in the lake-ridden, gopher empire of Minnesota, Jacob received a dual-degree in Music Performance and Marketing from Augsburg College in Minneapolis. His blog can be found here.

The Messiaen Connection; or, How to Inspire "Egg-Makers" by Esa-Pekka Salonen and musicians of the New York Philharmonic